In the week-ending mailbag: Is Gomez really tradeable?; how to get rid of Sean Avery?; and Don Cherry. This is the second-to-last mailbag I’ll be doing for a few weeks. After next Friday’s entry, I’m off until the week of Jan.

In the week-ending mailbag, Adam Proteau answers on Zdeno Chara, a Martin Brodeur trade, Jim Balsillie and more. It’s mailbag time once again. Thanks for all the mail you’ve put in my virtual bag – and thanks for not cracking any jokes about that last sentence.

Adam tackles your question on: a Jarome Iginla trade; becoming a journalist; award criteria; and more. Vancouver’s Rick Rypien was granted an indefinite leave of absence by the Canucks Thursday. Let’s hope he can take on his problem (or problems) and return as a productive athlete.

Does Evgeni Malkin belong in the best player debate?; who should the Bruins trade?; and a new idea to spice up the regular season. I’m going to set this week’s AA file up as if I were lame-o rapper will.i.am:
This is a mailbag column. You should read it. It has words in it.

In the week-ending mailbag Adam answers on the Leafs and shares a story about Cammi Granato as a minor hockey player. Belated best wishes to all military personnel who serve and reflect the best qualities of their citizenry. Let’s move right to your questions:
Happy Movember, Adam.

Adam ends the week answering your questions on fighting, airfare and why there are no European GMs in the NHL. It has to be more than a little jarring for fans of the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils - people used to rooting for consistently competitive teams year in and year out - to see their clubs flopping around like Mike Ribeiro or Maxim Lapierre this season.

In the week-ending mailbag: How good is Pittsburgh?; chances of a 2012 lockout; and much more. Hey journalism school kids: ever wanted to see what an opening paragraph for a reader mailbag looks like? Trick question – you’re already looking at one!
(Okay, you try and come up with new and exciting opening paragraphs for a reader mailbag.

In the Friday mailbag: Should the NHL suspend Avery for good?; more referee conspiracies; Capitals salary cap; and more. Another Friday means another THN mailbag. As always, thanks to all who submitted questions – and don’t forget to check out the Ask Adam features in our magazine and on The Hockey News Radio Show every Friday.

It wouldn't be a Friday without reader questions and this week we address referees, European games, Brian Burke and more. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before – the Phoenix Coyotes have a new owner lined up! My favorite part of Darren Dreger’s report was the use of the word “conceptually.

We get to readers' questions about Marc-Andre Bergeron, big issues in hockey and the chances of a Toronto outdoor game. Well, that was a pretty impressive first night of NHL action, no? As I mentioned on my Twitter feed, this is the part of the calendar where you realize why summer is seriously overrated.

In the mailbag, Adam tackles questions on: the league's best hitter, why Niemi didn't become an Oiler and more. We’re a week away from genuine NHL hockey and you’re all ramping up your question-submitting efforts accordingly. Perpetual thanks to everyone who takes a moment to write – and to folks who understand why I can’t get to all of them.

Adam Proteau answers on which team is good to run with; the impact of Dion Phaneuf; and where the NHL will go next. Hey all. Hope you’re unlike me and enjoying the nutrition-free sporting Slurpee that is pre-season hockey. Meanwhile, you should prepare for some structural changes at THN.